Portable fire escape



c. sAGO PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE Aug. m, w23.

1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l v Filed Feb. ll.

Aug. E4, E923.

C. SAGO PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE 2 Sheets-.Sheet 2 Filed Feb. ll, 1921 atented YAug. 14, '1923.

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" application-sied February :11, aan serial no'. 444,105.

Be it known that Lithia-nnss Saso, a fc-iti-. zen of the "United Ifltatesfof America, residing at `@ld Forge, in the 'county [olf ,Lackawanna The object of the inventionis to providesv relatively .simple V.and iefiicient V:portable l means for eecting rescue in case of irefrom Y buildings in .which :the ordinary means of egress are rendered inaccessible and to provide a device for this purpose which can be quickly extended toany desired height outside of the building and close to the wall thereof so as to permit of transfer of the occupants of the building from the windows thereof to the cage or car of the apparatus by' which they may be lowered to safety; and more especially to provide a fire escape suitable for transportation'by means of a lire apparatus truck, which is not open to the objection in the matter ofthe space required for the operation thereof, of the conventional forms of extension ladders or towers, which, owing to overhead trolley, telephone and telegraph wires, are frequentlyrendered impractical and ineffective; and with theseobjects in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein VFigure 1 is a side view of the apparatus in its extended or operative position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of hthe same in its folded or collapsed posi-- tion. j

Figure 3 is an end view. Y

Figure 4 is a transverse'section on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig ure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective detail view of the locking means by which the elements of the sectional standards 'are held in their aligned relation.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention contemplates a plurality1 of iiexible standards carryinga cage or car 11 and each consisting of a plurality ofjointed sections 12, corresponding in general features with asprocket chain and adapted to be Vrespectively reeled upon drums 13 carried by a suitable frame work 14 for transportation to and from the point of use by a truck 15 or any equivalent thereof. The standards refs-p'ectivelyl pass between loperating rolls V"16 and V1"? of Vwhich *the .former are of the sprocketV type, being' provided fwith, peripheral spurs orteeth for engagement with the sections or linksto-f the standards, and synchronous finovement' 'of the operating or .extension `rolls 16 of lthe driuns is secured byf endless .chain connections/18 'traversing sprocket ,wheels IQf-and :20 on the spindles respectively of said Voperating rolls and drums. Correspondence of `movement in the proper idftrectionqof the spindles of the operating rolls is secured by an endless chain 21 traversing sprocketwheels 22 on said spindles, and guide rollers 23 are disposed at the side edges of the standards adjacent to the operating rolls 'to prevent lateral displacementand insure the proper and effective communication of motion from the oper- .ating rolls to the standards in the. extension and retraction thereof. Obviously motion may be communicated to the spindles of the operating rolls for the extension and folding of the standards through a pulley 24 actuated from the motor of the truck or any equivalent source of energy.

Also guy ropes or cables 25 connected .with the cage or car are reeled upon drums 26 receiving motion through belts 27 from the spindles of the operating rolls 16 to insure a maintenance of tension upon said cables which will serve to properly brace the structure when in its extended or operative position.

Rule joints 28 are preferably employed between the sections of the standards and Suitable locking means consisting for example of Y spring latches 29- may be employed to stiifen the joints when the sections are extended in their aligned relation, it being obvious that these locking means are disengaged by the breaking of the joints between the sections as they approach the storage drums upon which the standards are reeled when not in use.

The advantage of the structure described, in addition to the fact that it may be extended and lowered quickly in conveying loads of the occupants of a building from an upper floor to the street resides in the fact that the standards or extension members by which Y ypositions within the area of the supporting frame or truck, so that for the operation of lll) theapparatus it is only neeessary to occupy aspace represented by the area of the truck', and the extension of the standards and the movement of the cage or car are vertical and occur Within an area which is sufficient to receive the true-k, so that the cage or car rnay4 be vmanipulated to readily avoid overhead Wires and like obstructions which ordinarily interfere with the operation of an eXtension ladder, ,or a fire escape apparatusembodying the principles of an extension ladder or tower.

. Having described the invention what is claimed as new and useful isrc- Y f A portable re escape apparatus having a transportable framework, spaced drums mounted in said framework, flexible standards terminally connected to said drums and reeledl upon the same, a platform surmounting'the standards at their' upper ends, the standards consisting of sections connected by rule joints of which those of one standard break in the direction ofthe other standard, operating rolls rotatably mounted in said framework above said drums and provided with peripheral teeth engaging openings Vin the sections of said standards, supplemental operating rolls disposed on opposite sides ofthe standards from said first mentioned operating rolls and holding the standards in contact Withtlie-latter, guide rollers rotatably mounted in' the framework above said irstmentioned operating rolls and formeel with peripheral grooves guiding said standards to maintain them properly aligned, power operating means, and operative connections betiveen the guide rolls, said first mentioned operating rolls and the drums and poiver operating means.V

In testimony whereof he affines his signature. I

CHARLES SAGO. 

